Improved Abe Lincoln returns to Anaheim school

Ref Aguayo sprays a primer and sealer onto the old six-foot Abe Lincoln statue that once stood in front of Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim. The statue is undergoing refurbishment and will be unveiled when the school reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

His years of service left him stressed, weathered and wearied, just like the real Abraham Lincoln was after years of strife commanding Union armies during the Civil War.

But this Abraham Lincoln, a life-sized plaster statue, has been returned to the vigorous form of his youth, when he watched thousands of students coming and going over the years at Lincoln Elementary School. Come January, he'll be surrounded again by schoolchildren.

Abe the statue hasn't always stood sentinel over the school. For most of the past two decades – no one seems to be certain exactly how long – Abe made his way from his post at the school to the district's warehouse, to an antique mall, to a collector's back yard. The collector, recognizing the statue's sentimental value to the school district, made sure it found its way back home.

Right now, Ledesma's students occupy a temporary school site near Harbor Boulevard and Ball Road while the original Lincoln Elementary – near Broadway and East Street – gets remodeled and upgraded. In January, the near-as-new Lincoln statue will have a prominent place in the campus office where it will greet visitors and serve as a focus for history lessons.

It's a happy ending and the terminus of a long journey, though Abe doesn't appear to have left Anaheim.

The last place Abe spent a significant amount of time, perhaps 10 to 15 years, was in the west Anaheim back yard of John and Cathy Spencer. Both are avid collectors with a particular interest in Lincoln memorabilia.

When the antique mall's owner began to shut the place down, the Spencers negotiated to purchase Lincoln for $500. They had thought about buying a larger home with high ceilings and thought Lincoln would be the perfect accompaniment to the foyer.

"This statue was going to be the crown jewel of our collection," John Spencer said, but that changed when they decided to remain in their current home. "He's so big, and you need a big space for him."

Because of his size, Abe, though treasured, was relegated to the back yard, where the summer sun and winter damp alternately tested the statue's exterior.

"The type of material he's made with doesn't weather well. He needs to be inside," Spencer said.

Distressed at watching Abe deteriorate, he began to make calls.

The local historical society was happy to learn of Abe's whereabouts but had neither the space nor the budget to care for him, Spencer said. A Lincoln museum in Redlands similarly turned down custody of the statue because of a stretched budget. Everything changed when Spencer called Peter Daniels, director of communications for the Anaheim City School District.

Spencer's voice quickened as he spoke about Daniels coming to their home, smiling and excitedly checking out the statue. Daniels, with the Spencers' blessing, immediately began crafting a plan to bring Abe home.

"I was so happy to give him away so he could find a new home. Finally," Spencer said.

Not that Abe could just roll into the school, where he stood outside for years – although no one seems to know how many. Weathering had peeled the statue's paint, caused chunks to fall out of its base, and caused a large crack to open down Abe's right side.

"There were a couple places where you could look in and see out the other side," said David Aeppli, the owner of Display, an Anaheim business that specializes in transportation and installation of art pieces. Still, being in the art business, Aeppli knew how to gather a team to rescue Abe.

Ref Aguayo sprays a primer and sealer onto the old six-foot Abe Lincoln statue that once stood in front of Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim. The statue is undergoing refurbishment and will be unveiled when the school reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ref Aguayo, right, stands on a ladder as he applies a primer and sealer on the six-foot Abe Lincoln statue Thursday morning at Display Art Installation and Storage Services in Anaheim. The statue is undergoing refurbishment will be unveiled when Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ref Aguayo, left, pours paint into a spray cup that he will paint on the six-foot Abe Lincoln statue as David Aeppli, right, owner of Display Art Installation and Storage Services in Anaheim, takes a few photos Thursday morning. The statue is undergoing refurbishment will be unveiled when Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ref Aguayo, left, and David Aeppli, right, owner of Display Art Installation and Storage Services in Anaheim, move a six-foot Abe Lincoln statue from a warehouse into a workshop at display so that that Aguayo can begin painting the statue Thursday morning. The statue is undergoing refurbishment will be unveiled when Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ref Aguayo, right, applies a primer and sealer on the six-foot Abe Lincoln statue Thursday morning at Display Art Installation and Storage Services in Anaheim. The statue is undergoing refurbishment will be unveiled when Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ref Aguayo, left, and David Aeppli, right, owner of Display Art Installation and Storage Services in Anaheim, move a six-foot Abe Lincoln statue from a warehouse into a workshop at display so that that Aguayo can begin painting the statue Thursday morning. The statue is undergoing refurbishment will be unveiled when Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
David Aeppli, left, owner of Display Art Installation and Storage Services in Anaheim, speaks with Ref Aguayo, right, a painter and finisher, about the final finish that he will paint on the six-foot Abe Lincoln statue Thursday morning. The statue is undergoing refurbishment will be unveiled when Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ref Aguayo, right, applies a primer and sealer on the six-foot Abe Lincoln statue Thursday morning at Display Art Installation and Storage Services in Anaheim. The statue is undergoing refurbishment will be unveiled when Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ref Aguayo sprays a primer and sealer onto the old six-foot Abe Lincoln statue that once stood in front of Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim. The statue is undergoing refurbishment and will be unveiled when the school reopens in January. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Abraham Lincoln shows his age in this photo shot before his recent restoration. The statue, which stood for years at Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim, will return to the newly-remodeled school in January. COURTESY OF THE ANAHEIM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Abraham Lincoln shows his age in this photo shot before his recent restoration. The statue, which stood for years at Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim, will return to the newly-remodeled school in January. COURTESY OF THE ANAHEIM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Exposure to the elements caused the Lincoln statue - made of some type of plaster - to deteriorate severely, opening up a large crack in the statue's right side. COURTESY OF THE ANAHEIM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

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